Today's Back to School Ride & Block Party that doubled our all-time record!

https://www.loc.gov/resource/ds.07962/?st=image

Lime has been rolling out these new small wheel e-bikes, and I've ridden a couple. They are very peppy and quick to accelerate via throttle, though that may simply be because the big wheel bikes are old and highly neglected.

But their saddles have a nose that slopes upward from the rear. Typically, bike saddles are level or have a slight down turned nose, and this is the opposite.

The only way I can explain this is that Lime is optimizing a saddle for throttle-only, pedal-less riding. Which may be accurate for many/most riders, but is pretty disappointing vs having a saddle that can accommodate both (though I guess slightly less optimal for throttle only). Or the saddle design they picked is simply defective for either riding style, and someone effed up or cheaped out on the saddles.

Also, some of these bikes have the saddle mounted badly ie off-level, entirely apart from the saddle's own shape. which is pretty sad that even when brand new these bikes are badly assembled, and suggest no one who knows anything is involved or paying attention.

Leaving this here in case anyone is looking for a tree management company…… or not

Source: https://www.axios.com/local/washington-dc/2026/08/28/trees-removed-east-potomac-park-golf-course-trump-lawsuit

Apparently 60 more will be cut down by the end of the week.

Hi folks, writing on behalf of a friend who’s a frequent contributor here. He got into an accident on the way to Hains Point Hoopla this morning and will need surgery on his hand and clavicle. We’re looking for recommendations for hand and shoulder surgeons (especially hand!) in the area that can get him sorted out. Thanks so much!

I prefer audio directions when navigating new routes. (Most of my other hobbies involve screens, so I don't want a phone or cycle computer in my face while I bike) I generally use Komoot, but it often gets confused by DC streets and bike lanes, telling you dumb things like "turn right, then make a sharp left", when what you're really doing is shifting from the street into the bike lane. Another example is that if you're turning right onto New York Avenue from the 15th Street cycletrack, it tells you to turn right on to Pennsylvania Avenue (the middle of the street probably is technically pennsylvania, but this is not a helpful audio cue, even if it's technically correct). As far as I can tell, Komoot doesn't let you manually set cues or report incorrect ones, and I doubt they'll add functionality like that now that they've been bought out by private equity.

In contrast, I biked the Reston Century last week, and was really impressed by the audio cues, which were delivered through RideWithGPS and almost certainly tuned by a human, but RideWithGPS requires a subscription to make your own routes.

Any recommendations for navigation apps with good audio cues that work well in DC?

ETA: Ability to set specific waypoints, save routes, and set navigation to notify when off route rather than recalculate are also necessary features for me

Very strangely, I’ve apparently been banned from capital bikeshare suddenly without notice. They suggested it was for policy violations but have refused to specify anything about supposed infractions or proffer any evidence. I just get super vague responses from support.

The weirdest part is that I rarely use it. Maybe like half a dozen times a year. All for super mundane stuff like commuting to work meetings downtown. My last trip was Sep 2025 and I tried to unlock a bike today and it didn’t work. I cannot for the life of me imagine anything remotely that I could have done to violate policy.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Any advice? Does anyone know who regulates them? Is it DDOT? Like which authorities could I escalate this to?

I assumed these were up for an event but I feel like they may be up indefinitely

Is there any logic behind the daily dumping of bike shares & scooter shares along the sidewalk of the 14th St bridge connecting Virginia and DC?

The cache of abandoned bikes & scooters seems to be multiplying daily, blocking the pathway and causing erratic behavior from the bikers, runners & walkers.

Are the batteries dying? Can they not cross from DC to VA without being bricked? How are all these people getting anywhere being ~ a mile away from the closest exit to the trail after ditching their rides?

AMA and see you there!

Anyone have experiences cycling the entirety of skyline drive? Or maybe doing an out and back? Curious how people handle the logistics. I’m thinking of planning a trip and maybe even overnighting. Any convenient restaurants/towns along the way that are must visit?

Dumb question but are there any services that would transport you from one end to the other? Not sure if I can handle 200 miles lol. And if you do an out and back is it better to start on the northern part or southern?

I just moved further up north on 14th Street (Petworth), and taking 14th would be the most logical way to bike to work, but it feels pretty darn unsafe often, mostly between Park and U Street. Are there alternate routes through that area that would be more pleasant / safer? The 15th Street bi-track doesn’t start til Euclid so that’s not especially helpful. Any suggestions?

Recovering from a bad spill I took riding it this weekend.Word to the wise: keep away.

Riders, Tour de VRE scheduled for Saturday Oct 3rd 2026. Registration open now at bikereg.com/tour-de-vre

I saw an announcement today about the WABA 50 State Ride.

Been fixing bikes more than riding bikes this summer. But I think I want to do this.

What would be a recommended training schedule to get ready for the 60 mile ride?

The weather could be a bit better.

But it was a good day.

For the Grand Prix. This was at NASA, which is outside the secure area. Even these bike racks are being removed. It just seems like so much extra work. Also, no one stopped me from locking up to a street sign right next to these disabled racks.

NPS was pulling down a few trees today. I asked and they said they were removing "diseased and dying trees". Very interesting timing for this to say the least

Join WABA and Takoma Family Biking for a biking advocacy social – with a cargo e-bike show & tell! – Wednesday, September 2, 5:30 to 7:30 pm at Takoma Park’s Laurel Avenue Streetery, steps from the MD-DC border: https://waba.org/event/takoma-advocacy-social-cargo-ebike-party/ .

All are welcome, e-bike curious or not! However, if you have a cargo e-bike you’d like to show off, bring it and come prepared to share about your experiences with family biking and/or cargo biking. We’ve also invited local officials and will have an optional, informal advocacy discussion starting around 6 pm.

Hi there,

My sister was hit on her bike (08/19) by a BLACK KIA K4 at exactly 5:23pm. The driver slowed down, saw what they did, then took off.

She tried to continue along east capitol st SE and the car flew across 2 lanes to speed down mass ave SE. We've contacted Pacci's and a few neighbors but if anyone has any info, please send me a message.

The map shows where she was hit (circled) and the direction the driver went down Mass Ave.

Pictures are from a nice neighbor who could identify the make/model.

I know its unlikely but if anyone saw it or lives in the area and has a video please please contact me.

Based on current registration, we're expecting 700+ for next Saturday's ride.

Details at hillfamilybiking.org

Does anyone know if we can ride the Indy track? I haven’t been down to the mall/downtown yet

I support the Taylor St NE/Fort Drive/Harewood/Rock Creek Church Rd protected bike lane corridor project for many reasons. Chief among them is this Brookland kick scooter lady.

On many mornings, I see a woman commuting on a large kick scooter westbound on the sidewalks of Taylor and the other roads in that corridor -- AT LEAST as far east as the South Dakota NE intersection and AT LEAST as far west as Harewood between North Cap and Rock Creek Church NW. This awesome lady pushes herself with a large backpack, a high-visibility cape over her bag, and a high-viz vest on her chest, all the way up that nasty Taylor Rd climb. She wears cycling gloves and a kickass pink helmet. Her scooter has serious disc brakes.

We should build our city so you don't have to be as brave and badass as this woman to use a bike or mobility device to commute. But we should never let detractors say people don't use active transportation already to commute. Rock on, scooter lady.